The last premiere of 2017 at the Hungarian State Opera is a fairy-tale opera performed traditionally in the festive season. The new production directed by Rafael R. Villalobos, winner of Opera Europa’s directing competition in Graz, welcomes adults and children alike.*

On 10 February, 2018, French tenor superstar Roberto Alagna and Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak will make their debut on the stage of the Erkel Theatre during our Ring Gala. They will perform popular duets and arias from Romeo et Juliette, L'elisir d'amore, Otello, Gianni Schicchi and Madama Butterfly.

The Hungarian National Ballet, the 130-year-old official ballet company of the Hungarian State Opera, announces an audition upon invitation to be held from 10 a.m. on 14 January, 2018, at our temporary rehearsal venue (due to the restoration of the Opera House) for immediate openings as well as contracts starting 1 August, 2018 (depending on the applicants’ work visa requirements).

The classics live on with us: this two-part production from the Hungarian National Ballet features one work from Harald Lander and another by George Balanchine, with the latter piece making its first appearance in Hungary.

The Hungarian State Opera’s 2017/18 season will get off to an unusual start, since the Opera House will not be opening its doors in September. The modernisation means that the season will start at the Erkel Theatre, and while there will be fewer programmes than usual, their diversity will match that of previous years. The Opera Visit, the Opera Shop and the Opera Café at the Opera House are still open to the public.

The Hungarian State Opera’s 2017/18 season will get off to an unusual start, since the Opera House will not be opening its doors in September. The modernisation means that the season will start at the Erkel Theatre, and while there will be fewer programmes than usual, their diversity will match that of previous years. The Opera Visit, the Opera Shop and the Opera Café at the Opera House are still open to the public.

The Hungarian State Opera’s 2017/18 season will get off to an unusual start, since the Opera House will not be opening its doors in September. The modernisation means that the season will start at the Erkel Theatre, and while there will be fewer programmes than usual, their diversity will match that of previous years. The Opera Visit, the Opera Shop and the Opera Café at the Opera House are still open to the public.

Additional news

On 10 February, 2018, French tenor superstar Roberto Alagna and Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak will make their debut on the stage of the Erkel Theatre during our Ring Gala. They will perform popular duets and arias from Romeo et Juliette, L'elisir d'amore, Otello, Gianni Schicchi and Madama Butterfly.

The Hungarian National Ballet, the 130-year-old official ballet company of the Hungarian State Opera, announces an audition upon invitation to be held from 10 a.m. on 14 January, 2018, at our temporary rehearsal venue (due to the restoration of the Opera House) for immediate openings as well as contracts starting 1 August, 2018 (depending on the applicants’ work visa requirements).

The last premiere of 2017 at the Hungarian State Opera is a fairy-tale opera performed traditionally in the festive season. The new production directed by Rafael R. Villalobos, winner of Opera Europa’s directing competition in Graz, welcomes adults and children alike.*

The classics live on with us: this two-part production from the Hungarian National Ballet features one work from Harald Lander and another by George Balanchine, with the latter piece making its first appearance in Hungary.

Over the past few years, the Hungarian State Opera has aimed to stage operas that have never or rarely been performed in Hungary. On 18 November 2017, the Budapest audience can see Rossini’s third most frequently performed opera, L’italiana in Algeri in a production directed by Máté Szabó.

On 25 October 2017, the Hungarian State Opera kicks off its tenth tour around Japan. For a whole month, audiences at 20 different venues can enjoy two full-scale productions given by the company featuring internationally acclaimed soloists Edita Gruberová, Erika Miklósa and Andrea Rost. The final part of the tour will offer orchestra concerts with appearance by pianist Ingrid Fujiko Hemming.

The charity concert on 22 October 2017 at the Erkel Theatre is organized in aim children suffering with tumours or leukaemia. For the first time, the newest and largest Bogányi Piano can be heard during the concert played by Gergely Bogányi himself. His partner on stage is mezzo-sopranoZita Váradi.

On 12 October, opera lovers and novices may visit the new platform offered by Opera Europa, the European association of opera companies and festivals. Opera Europa and 30 opera companies from 18 countries join forces to build on the success of The Opera Platform and bring you OPERAVISION, thanks to the renewed support of the European Union’s Creative Europe programme.

The Hungarian State Opera remembers the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in autumn 2017 with concert-format performances of Verdi’s Requiem and Stiffelio, as well as a new production of a work that has not been played in Hungary for a long time: Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots, staged by János Szikora at the Erkel Theatre.

The first ballet premiere of the 2017/18 season of the Hungarian National Ballet takes place at a special venue. Three pieces by internationally acclaimed choreographer Hans van Manen are presented on one evening as part of the Contemporary Arts Festival Budapest at the Müpa Festival Theatre.